Trading Tyler Glasnow Makes Sense

Every offseason is always filled with tough decisions for the Tampa Bay Rays. It isn’t uncommon for them to trade away their best players to keep their farm system strong. The Rays front office has proven that they are very successful in their chosen operation method. Given that Tyler Glasnow has one year and $25 million remaining on his contract, it makes sense for the Rays to trade him.

Tampa Was Never Going To Keep Most Of Their Roster Together

After the Rays were eliminated from the postseason, their President of Baseball Operations Erik Neander mentioned they could keep most of their roster together. I didn’t believe him and if Rays fans were smart, they shouldn’t have either. This would’ve made their payroll the largest in team history and depending on arbitration cases, it would’ve brought it well into the hundreds. Tampa has refused to operate like that and tends to trade players as they become more expensive. Tyler Glasnow isn’t immune from their way of thinking.

Looming Free Agency, A Pricey Contract, And Injury Issues

Tyler Glasnow is one year away from being eligible for free agency. He has $25 million remaining on his current contract. Glasnow has also struggled with durability as various injuries have only allowed him to log a total of 120 innings in his career. Given his injury history, the amount of money remaining on his contract, and that Tampa probably won’t re-sign him, this makes him expendable. Given the caliber of pitcher Glasnow when he’s healthy, Tampa is going to try to acquire top prospects or MLB-ready pitchers. Tampa has a knack for acquiring previously struggling pitchers and making them successful. Glasnow happens to be one of their success stories.

There Will Be Plenty Of Interest In Glasnow

There is no such thing as too much pitching! Durability concerns won’t scare away teams that need to quickly upgrade their starting rotations. They’ve seen how great he is when healthy. The Rays will have plenty of suitors trying to trade for Glasnow. What the deal is going to come down to is the haul will Tampa get back in return.

Trading Glasnow Will Help Replenish Organizational Depth

Due to all the injuries last year, the Rays didn’t have the organizational depth they were accustomed to having. Trading Glasnow will allow them to replenish their farm system and add more depth. This in turn will put them in a better position to deal with injuries that will come up. Making this move will also allow the franchise to have more sustained success.

Trading Him Makes Too Much Sense

There was no way the Rays were ever going to follow through on keeping most of their roster together. Not sure why Erik Neander even dangled that as a possibility. Tampa was never going to suddenly change their ways and run the team with a triple-digit payroll. With Glasnow a year away from free agency, the money remaining on his current deal, and the long injury history; it makes sense for the Rays to trade him away. Furthermore, there will be plenty of teams interested in adding him to their rotation. Making this trade will allow the franchise to have more sustainable success both in the present and future.

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